Low dose combination therapy for treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms

ABSTRACT

The present application relates to treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms using the JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor, ruxolitinib, in combination with a low dose of a Pim inhibitor, N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, wherein the combination is unexpectedly synergistic at a very low dose of the Pim inhibitor.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms using the JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor, ruxolitinib, in combination with a low dose of a Pim inhibitor, N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, wherein the combination is unexpectedly synergistic at a very low dose of the Pim inhibitor.

BACKGROUND

The discovery of the activating V617F mutation in Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) in the majority of patients with the classic Philadelphia chromosome-negative (Ph−) myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) provided a strong impetus for the development of pharmacologic inhibitors of JAK2, culminating in the regulatory approval of the JAK1/2 inhibitor, ruxolitinib, for patients with myelofibrosis (MF) in 2011 and hydroxyurea (HU)-resistant/intolerant polycythemia vera (PV) in 2014. The activity of ruxolitinib in patients with MF without regard to JAK2 mutation status was an important observation that was vindicated by the finding of universal activation of the JAK-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway in MPNs.

However, because JAK2 signaling is not suppressed long term and molecular remission is not observed in patients treated with JAK2 inhibitors, there is a need for new therapies to improve patient outcome. This application is directed to this need and others.

SUMMARY

The present application provides, inter alia, methods of treating a myeloproliferative neoplasm in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering to said patient N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The present application further provides methods of treating a myeloproliferative neoplasm in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering to said patient a dose from about 5 mg/day to about 100 mg/day N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a therapeutically effective amount of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The present application also provides methods of treating a myeloproliferative neoplasm in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering to said patient a dose from about 5 mg/day to about 100 mg/day N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a dose of from about 10 mg/day to about 50 mg/day of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The present application further provides the use of the compounds at the doses recited herein for use in the manufacture of medicaments for use in treating a myeloproliferative neoplasm.

The present application also provides the compounds at the doses recited herein for use in treating a myeloproliferative neoplasm.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1(A, B, and C) depict the % growth in BaF3/EpoR/JAK2-V617F, UKE1, and SET2 cells, respectively, for untreated cells or cells treated with ruxolitinib (Rux) or Compound 1 (PIMi), and these two together (Rux+PIMi).

FIGS. 2 (A and B) depict % annexin V+ in UKE1 and SET2 cells treated with vehicle (DMSO), ruxolitinib, Compound 1 (PIMi), or the two drugs together.

FIG. 3 depicts the % growth in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from an MPN patient (PV, JAK2-V617F+) in the presence of either DMSO-vehicle, 50 nM ruxolitinib (Rux), 20 nM or 5 nM Compound 1 (PIMi) or the two drugs in combination. Epo-independent erythroid colonies were scored after 12 days. Results are shown in FIG. 3. Expected % growth of combinations using the Bliss independence model is indicated by the transparent bars with dotted lines. The lower measured % growth indicates synergy.

FIG. 4 depicts immunoblot analysis of MPN patient granulocytes left untreated (DMSO only) or treated with the indicated concentrations of Compound 1 (PIMi) or ruxolitinib.

FIG. 5(A) depicts % pBAD inhibition in plasma samples from patients at 24 hours post dose of Compound 1.

FIG. 5(B) depicts % pBAD inhibition in plasma samples from patients at on cycle 1, day 8 for 80 mg BID of Compound 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the terms “e.g.” and “such as,” and grammatical equivalents thereof, the phrase “and without limitation” is understood to follow unless explicitly stated otherwise.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

As used herein, the term “about” means “approximately” (e.g., plus or minus approximately 10% of the indicated value).

The present invention relates to the use of a JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor, ruxolitinib, in combination with a PIM inhibitor for treatment of a myeloproliferative neoplasm. It has been unexpectedly found that very low doses of the PIM inhibitor synergize with ruxolitinib at levels below IC₅₀ and much lower for the PIM inhibitor.

Ruxolitinib, (3R)-3-cyclopentyl-3-[4-(7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]propanenitrile, is an inhibitor of JAK1 and JAK2. The IC₅₀ of ruxolitinib was measured by Assay A infra at 1 mM ATP and found to be less than 10 nM at JAK1 and JAK2. Ruxolitinib can be made by the procedure described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,598,257 (Example 67), filed Dec. 12, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Ruxolitinib phosphate can be prepared as described in US 2008/0312259, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-Amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide (Compound 1 below) is an inhibitor of Pim1, Pim2, and Pim3. Compound 1 can prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,200,004 or US 2017/0121310, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The IC₅₀ of Compound 1 was measured by the procedure in Assay B infra and found to be ≤100 nM at Pim1, Pim2, and Pim3. The phosphoric acid salt, dihydrochloric acid salt, hydrochloric acid salt, maleic acid salt, adipic acid salt, hydrobromic acid salt, (R)-(−)-mandelic acid salt, salicylic acid salt, benzoic acid salt, benzenesulfonic acid salt, L-pyroglutamic acid salt, methanesulfonic acid salt, (1S)-(+)-10-camphorsulfonic acid salt, fumaric acid salt, sulfuric acid salt, L-tartaric acid salt, and D-tartaric acid salt of Compound 1 can be prepared as described in US 2017/0121310, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The IC₅₀ of the dihydrochloric acid and phosphoric acid salts of Compound 1 was measured by the procedure in Assay B infra and found to be <35 nM at Pim1, Pim2, and Pim3.

Accordingly, the present application provides a method of treating a myeloproliferative neoplasm in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering to said patient N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The present application further provides a method of treating a myeloproliferative neoplasm in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering to said patient a dose from about 2 mg/day to about 160 mg/day N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a therapeutically effective amount of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The present application further provides a method of treating a myeloproliferative neoplasm in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering to said patient a dose from about 2 mg/day to about 100 mg/day N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a therapeutically effective amount of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The present application further provides a method of treating a myeloproliferative neoplasm in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering to said patient a dose from about 5 mg/day to about 100 mg/day N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a therapeutically effective amount of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The present application also provides a method of treating a myeloproliferative neoplasm in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering to said patient a dose from about 5 mg/day to about 100 mg/day N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a dose of from about 10 mg/day to about 50 mg/day of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In some embodiments, the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 5 mg/day to about 100 mg/day.

In some embodiments, the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 8 mg/day to about 80 mg/day.

In some embodiments, the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 8 mg/day to about 70 mg/day.

In some embodiments, the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 8 mg to about 60 mg/day.

In some embodiments, the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 8 mg/day to about 50 mg/day.

In some embodiments, the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 8 mg/day to about 40 mg/day.

In some embodiments, the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 8 mg/day to about 30 mg/day.

In some embodiments, the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 8 mg/day to about 20 mg/day.

In some embodiments, the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 2 mg BID to about 50 mg BID.

In some embodiments, the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 4 mg BID to about 40 mg BID.

In some embodiments, the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 4 mg BID to about 35 mg BID.

In some embodiments, the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 4 mg to about 30 mg BID.

In some embodiments, the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 4 mg BID to about 25 mg BID.

In some embodiments, the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 4 mg BID to about 20 mg BID.

In some embodiments, the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 4 mg BID to about 15 mg BID.

In some embodiments, the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 4 mg BID to about 10 mg BID.

In some embodiments, the dose of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is about 10 mg/day to about 30 mg/day.

In some embodiments, the dose of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is about 10 mg/day to about 50 mg/day.

In some embodiments, the dose of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is about 10 mg/day to about 30 mg/day.

In some embodiments, the dose of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is about 10 mg/day.

In some embodiments, the dose of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is about 20 mg/day.

In some embodiments, the dose of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is about 30 mg/day.

In some embodiments, the dose of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is about 5 mg BID to about 25 mg BID.

In some embodiments, the dose of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is about 5 mg BID to about 15 mg BID.

In some embodiments, the dose of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is about 5 mg BID.

In some embodiments, the dose of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is about 10 mg BID.

In some embodiments, the dose of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is about 15 mg BID.

In some embodiments, ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is ruxolitinib phosphate.

In some embodiments, the N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is selected from the phosphoric acid salt, dihydrochloric acid salt, hydrochloric acid salt, maleic acid salt, adipic acid salt, hydrobromic acid salt, (R)-(−)-mandelic acid salt, salicylic acid salt, benzoic acid salt, benzenesulfonic acid salt, L-pyroglutamic acid salt, methanesulfonic acid salt, (1S)-(+)-10-camphorsulfonic acid salt, fumaric acid salt, sulfuric acid salt, L-tartaric acid salt, and D-tartaric acid salt of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide.

In some embodiments, the N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is the phosphoric acid salt of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-Amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide.

In some embodiments, the myeloproliferative neoplasm is selected from polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), primary myelofibrosis, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES), systemic mast cell disease (SMCD), chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL), and chronic eosinophilic leukemia.

In some embodiments, the myeloproliferative neoplasm is selected from polycythemia vera (PV).

In some embodiments, the myeloproliferative neoplasm is selected from essential thrombocythemia (ET).

In some embodiments, the myeloproliferative neoplasm is selected from primary myelofibrosis.

In some embodiments, the myeloproliferative neoplasm is myelofibrosis.

In some embodiments, the ruxolitinib, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and the N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, are administered orally.

The preceding embodiments are intended to be combined in any suitable combination as if the embodiments are multiply dependent claims (e.g., the embodiments related to the individual doses for ruxolitinib, the embodiments related to the individual doses for the PIM inhibitor (Compound 1), the embodiments related to the salt forms, the embodiments related to the individual types of myeloproliferative neoplasms, and the embodiments related to oral administration can be combined in any combination). The combinations are not separately listed herein merely for the sake of brevity.

All compounds, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, can be found together with other substances such as water and solvents (e.g., hydrates and solvates) or can be isolated. When in the solid state, the compounds described herein and salts thereof may occur in various forms and may, e.g., take the form of solvates, including hydrates. The compounds may be in any solid state form, such as a polymorph or solvate, so unless clearly indicated otherwise, reference in the specification to compounds and salts thereof should be understood as encompassing any solid state form of the compound.

The phrase “pharmaceutically acceptable” is employed herein to refer to those compounds, materials, compositions and/or dosage forms which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of human beings and animals without excessive toxicity, irritation, allergic response, or other problem or complication, commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio.

The present invention also includes pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds described herein. The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” refers to derivatives of the disclosed compounds wherein the parent compound is modified by converting an existing acid or base moiety to its salt form. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts include, but are not limited to, mineral or organic acid salts of basic residues such as amines; alkali or organic salts of acidic residues such as carboxylic acids; and the like. The pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the present invention include the non-toxic salts of the parent compound formed, e.g., from non-toxic inorganic or organic acids. The pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the present invention can be synthesized from the parent compound which contains a basic or acidic moiety by conventional chemical methods. Generally, such salts can be prepared by reacting the free acid or base forms of these compounds with a stoichiometric amount of the appropriate base or acid in water or in an organic solvent, or in a mixture of the two; generally, non-aqueous media like ether, ethyl acetate, alcohols (e.g., methanol, ethanol, iso-propanol, or butanol) or acetonitrile (MeCN) are preferred. Lists of suitable salts are found in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 17^(th) Ed., (Mack Publishing Company, Easton, 1985), p. 1418, Berge et al., J. Pharm. Sci., 1977, 66(1), 1-19, and in Stahl et al., Handbook of Pharmaceutical Salts: Properties, Selection, and Use, (Wiley, 2002). In some embodiments, the compounds described herein include the N-oxide forms.

The dosages described herein are on a free base basis.

The terms “individual” or “patient,” used interchangeably, refer to any animal, including mammals, preferably mice, rats, other rodents, rabbits, dogs, cats, swine, cattle, sheep, horses, or primates, and most preferably humans.

The phrase “therapeutically effective amount” refers to the amount of active compound or pharmaceutical agent that elicits the biological or medicinal response in a tissue, system, animal, individual or human that is being sought by a researcher, veterinarian, medical doctor or other clinician.

The term “treating” or “treatment” refers to one or more of (1) inhibiting the disease; e.g., inhibiting a disease, condition or disorder in an individual who is experiencing or displaying the pathology or symptomatology of the disease, condition or disorder (i.e., arresting further development of the pathology and/or symptomatology); and (2) ameliorating the disease; e.g., ameliorating a disease, condition or disorder in an individual who is experiencing or displaying the pathology or symptomatology of the disease, condition or disorder (i.e., reversing the pathology and/or symptomatology) such as decreasing the severity of disease. In one embodiment, treating or treatment includes preventing or reducing the risk of developing the disease; e.g., preventing or reducing the risk of developing a disease, condition or disorder in an individual who may be predisposed to the disease, condition or disorder but does not yet experience or display the pathology or symptomatology of the disease. The term “BID” means two times a day.

Additional Combinations

Cell growth and survival can be impacted by multiple signaling pathways. Thus, it is useful to combine different kinase inhibitors, exhibiting different preferences in the kinases which they modulate the activities of, to treat such conditions. Targeting more than one signaling pathway (or more than one biological molecule involved in a given signaling pathway) may reduce the likelihood of drug-resistance arising in a cell population, and/or reduce the toxicity of treatment.

Accordingly, the methods can further comprise the administration of one or more other kinase inhibitors. For example, the compounds of the invention can be combined with one or more inhibitors of the following kinases for the treatment of cancer: Akt1, Akt2, Akt3, TGF-βR, PKA, PKG, PKC, CaM-kinase, phosphorylase kinase, MEKK, ERK, MAPK, mTOR, EGFR, HER2, HER3, HER4, INS-R, IGF-1R, IR-R, PDGFαR, PDGFβR, CSFIR, KIT, FLK-II, KDR/FLK-1, FLK-4, FGFR1, FGFR2, FGFR3, FGFR4, c-Met, Ron, Sea, TRKA, TRKB, TRKC, FLT3, VEGFR/Flt2, Flt4, EphA1, EphA2, EphA3, EphB2, EphB4, Tie2, Src, Fyn, Lck, Fgr, Btk, Fak, SYK, FRK, JAK, ABL, ALK and B-Raf Additionally, the Pim inhibitors of the invention can be combined with inhibitors of kinases associated with the PIK3/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, such as PI3K, Akt (including Akt1, Akt2 and Akt3) and mTOR kinases.

The methods can further be used in combination with other methods of treatment, for example by chemotherapy, irradiation, or surgery. The compounds can be administered in combination with one or more anti-cancer drugs, such as a chemotherapeutics. Example chemotherapeutics include any of: abarelix, aldesleukin, alemtuzumab, alitretinoin, allopurinol, altretamine, anastrozole, arsenic trioxide, asparaginase, azacitidine, bevacizumab, bexarotene, bleomycin, bortezombi, bortezomib, busulfan intravenous, busulfan oral, calusterone, capecitabine, carboplatin, carmustine, cetuximab, chlorambucil, cisplatin, cladribine, clofarabine, cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, dacarbazine, dactinomycin, dalteparin sodium, dasatinib, daunorubicin, decitabine, denileukin, denileukin diftitox, dexrazoxane, docetaxel, doxorubicin, dromostanolone propionate, eculizumab, epirubicin, erlotinib, estramustine, etoposide phosphate, etoposide, exemestane, fentanyl citrate, filgrastim, floxuridine, fludarabine, fluorouracil, fulvestrant, gefitinib, gemcitabine, gemtuzumab ozogamicin, goserelin acetate, histrelin acetate, ibritumomab tiuxetan, idarubicin, ifosfamide, imatinib mesylate, interferon alfa 2a, irinotecan, lapatinib ditosylate, lenalidomide, letrozole, leucovorin, leuprolide acetate, levamisole, lomustine, meclorethamine, megestrol acetate, melphalan, mercaptopurine, methotrexate, methoxsalen, mitomycin C, mitotane, mitoxantrone, nandrolone phenpropionate, nelarabine, nofetumomab, oxaliplatin, paclitaxel, pamidronate, panitumumab, pegaspargase, pegfilgrastim, pemetrexed disodium, pentostatin, pipobroman, plicamycin, procarbazine, quinacrine, rasburicase, rituximab, ruxolitinib, sorafenib, streptozocin, sunitinib, sunitinib maleate, tamoxifen, temozolomide, teniposide, testolactone, thalidomide, thioguanine, thiotepa, topotecan, toremifene, tositumomab, trastuzumab, tretinoin, uracil mustard, valrubicin, vinblastine, vincristine, vinorelbine, vorinostat and zoledronate.

The methods can further be used in combination with one or more anti-inflammatory agents, steroids, immunosuppressants, or therapeutic anti-bodies.

When more than one pharmaceutical agent is administered to a patient, they can be administered simultaneously, sequentially, or in combination (e.g., for more than two agents).

Compositions

The compounds can be administered in the form of pharmaceutical compositions. These compositions can be prepared in a manner well known in the pharmaceutical art, and can be administered by a variety of routes, depending upon whether local or systemic treatment is indicated and upon the area to be treated. Administration may be topical (including transdermal, epidermal, ophthalmic and to mucous membranes including intranasal, vaginal and rectal delivery), pulmonary (e.g., by inhalation or insufflation of powders or aerosols, including by nebulizer; intratracheal or intranasal), oral or parenteral. Parenteral administration includes intravenous, intraarterial, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal intramuscular or injection or infusion; or intracranial, e.g., intrathecal or intraventricular, administration. Parenteral administration can be in the form of a single bolus dose, or may be, e.g., by a continuous perfusion pump. Pharmaceutical compositions and formulations for topical administration may include transdermal patches, ointments, lotions, creams, gels, drops, suppositories, sprays, liquids and powders. Conventional pharmaceutical carriers, aqueous, powder or oily bases, thickeners and the like may be necessary or desirable.

The pharmaceutical compositions can contain, as the active ingredient, the compounds, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers (excipients). In some embodiments, the composition is suitable for topical administration. In making the compositions, the active ingredient is typically mixed with an excipient, diluted by an excipient or enclosed within such a carrier in the form of, e.g., a capsule, sachet, paper, or other container. When the excipient serves as a diluent, it can be a solid, semi-solid, or liquid material, which acts as a vehicle, carrier or medium for the active ingredient. Thus, the compositions can be in the form of tablets, pills, powders, lozenges, sachets, cachets, elixirs, suspensions, emulsions, solutions, syrups, aerosols (as a solid or in a liquid medium), ointments containing, e.g., up to 10% by weight of the active compound, soft and hard gelatin capsules, suppositories, sterile injectable solutions and sterile packaged powders.

In preparing a formulation, the active compound can be milled to provide the appropriate particle size prior to combining with the other ingredients. If the active compound is substantially insoluble, it can be milled to a particle size of less than 200 mesh. If the active compound is substantially water soluble, the particle size can be adjusted by milling to provide a substantially uniform distribution in the formulation, e.g., about 40 mesh.

The compounds may be milled using known milling procedures such as wet milling to obtain a particle size appropriate for tablet formation and for other formulation types. Finely divided (nanoparticulate) preparations of the compounds of the invention can be prepared by processes known in the art see, e.g., WO 2002/000196.

Some examples of suitable excipients include lactose, dextrose, sucrose, sorbitol, mannitol, starches, gum acacia, calcium phosphate, alginates, tragacanth, gelatin, calcium silicate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, cellulose, water, syrup and methyl cellulose. The formulations can additionally include: lubricating agents such as talc, magnesium stearate and mineral oil; wetting agents; emulsifying and suspending agents; preserving agents such as methyl- and propylhydroxy-benzoates; and sweetening agents and flavoring agents. The compositions of the invention can be formulated so as to provide quick, sustained or delayed release of the active ingredient after administration to the patient by employing procedures known in the art.

In some embodiments, the pharmaceutical composition comprises silicified microcrystalline cellulose (SMCC) and at least one compound described herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In some embodiments, the silicified microcrystalline cellulose comprises about 98% microcrystalline cellulose and about 2% silicon dioxide w/w.

In some embodiments, the composition is a sustained release composition comprising at least one compound described herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In some embodiments, the composition comprises at least one compound described herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and at least one component selected from microcrystalline cellulose, lactose monohydrate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and polyethylene oxide. In some embodiments, the composition comprises at least one compound described herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and microcrystalline cellulose, lactose monohydrate and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. In some embodiments, the composition comprises at least one compound described herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and microcrystalline cellulose, lactose monohydrate and polyethylene oxide. In some embodiments, the composition further comprises magnesium stearate or silicon dioxide. In some embodiments, the microcrystalline cellulose is Avicel PH102™. In some embodiments, the lactose monohydrate is Fast-flo 316™. In some embodiments, the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 2208 K4M (e.g., Methocel K4 M Premier™) and/or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 2208 K100LV (e.g., Methocel K00LV™) In some embodiments, the polyethylene oxide is polyethylene oxide WSR 1105 (e.g., Polyox WSR 1105™).

The components used to formulate the pharmaceutical compositions are of high purity and are substantially free of potentially harmful contaminants (e.g., at least National Food grade, generally at least analytical grade, and more typically at least pharmaceutical grade). Particularly for human consumption, the composition is preferably manufactured or formulated under Good Manufacturing Practice standards as defined in the applicable regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. For example, suitable formulations may be sterile and/or substantially isotonic and/or in full compliance with all Good Manufacturing Practice regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The active compound may be effective over a wide dosage range and is generally administered in a therapeutically effective amount. It will be understood, however, that the amount of the compound actually administered will usually be determined by a physician, according to the relevant circumstances, including the condition to be treated, the chosen route of administration, the actual compound administered, the age, weight and response of the individual patient, the severity of the patient's symptoms and the like.

The therapeutic dosage of a compound of the present invention can vary according to, e.g., the particular use for which the treatment is made, the manner of administration of the compound, the health and condition of the patient, and the judgment of the prescribing physician. The proportion or concentration of a compound of the invention in a pharmaceutical composition can vary depending upon a number of factors including dosage, chemical characteristics (e.g., hydrophobicity), and the route of administration.

For preparing solid compositions such as tablets, the principal active ingredient is mixed with a pharmaceutical excipient to form a solid preformulation composition containing a homogeneous mixture of a compound of the present invention. When referring to these preformulation compositions as homogeneous, the active ingredient is typically dispersed evenly throughout the composition so that the composition can be readily subdivided into equally effective unit dosage forms such as tablets, pills and capsules. This solid preformulation is then subdivided into unit dosage forms of the type described above containing from, e.g., about 0.1 to about 1000 mg of the active ingredient of the present invention.

The tablets or pills of the present invention can be coated or otherwise compounded to provide a dosage form affording the advantage of prolonged action. For example, the tablet or pill can comprise an inner dosage and an outer dosage component, the latter being in the form of an envelope over the former. The two components can be separated by an enteric layer which serves to resist disintegration in the stomach and permit the inner component to pass intact into the duodenum or to be delayed in release. A variety of materials can be used for such enteric layers or coatings, such materials including a number of polymeric acids and mixtures of polymeric acids with such materials as shellac, cetyl alcohol and cellulose acetate.

The liquid forms in which the compounds and compositions of the present invention can be incorporated for administration orally or by injection include aqueous solutions, suitably flavored syrups, aqueous or oil suspensions, and flavored emulsions with edible oils such as cottonseed oil, sesame oil, coconut oil, or peanut oil, as well as elixirs and similar pharmaceutical vehicles.

Compositions for inhalation or insufflation include solutions and suspensions in pharmaceutically acceptable, aqueous or organic solvents, or mixtures thereof, and powders. The liquid or solid compositions may contain suitable pharmaceutically acceptable excipients as described supra. In some embodiments, the compositions are administered by the oral or nasal respiratory route for local or systemic effect. Compositions can be nebulized by use of inert gases. Nebulized solutions may be breathed directly from the nebulizing device or the nebulizing device can be attached to a face mask, tent, or intermittent positive pressure breathing machine. Solution, suspension, or powder compositions can be administered orally or nasally from devices which deliver the formulation in an appropriate manner.

Topical formulations can contain one or more conventional carriers. In some embodiments, ointments can contain water and one or more hydrophobic carriers selected from, e.g., liquid paraffin, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, propylene glycol, white Vaseline® (petroleum jelly) and the like. Carrier compositions of creams can be based on water in combination with glycerol and one or more other components, e.g., glycerinemonostearate, PEG-glycerinemonostearate and cetylstearyl alcohol. Gels can be formulated using isopropyl alcohol and water, suitably in combination with other components such as, e.g., glycerol, hydroxyethyl cellulose and the like.

The amount of compound or composition administered to a patient will vary depending upon what is being administered, the purpose of the administration, such as prophylaxis or therapy, the state of the patient, the manner of administration and the like. In therapeutic applications, compositions can be administered to a patient already suffering from a disease in an amount sufficient to cure or at least partially arrest the symptoms of the disease and its complications. Effective doses will depend on the disease condition being treated as well as by the judgment of the attending clinician depending upon factors such as the severity of the disease, the age, weight and general condition of the patient and the like.

The compositions administered to a patient can be in the form of pharmaceutical compositions described above. These compositions can be sterilized by conventional sterilization techniques, or may be sterile filtered. Aqueous solutions can be packaged for use as is, or lyophilized, the lyophilized preparation being combined with a sterile aqueous carrier prior to administration. The pH of the compound preparations typically will be between 3 and 11, more preferably from 5 to 9 and most preferably from 7 to 8. It will be understood that use of certain of the foregoing excipients, carriers or stabilizers will result in the formation of pharmaceutical salts.

Kits

The present application also includes pharmaceutical kits useful, which include one or more containers containing a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of the compound, or any of the embodiments thereof. Such kits can further include one or more of various conventional pharmaceutical kit components, such as, e.g., containers with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, additional containers, etc., as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Instructions, either as inserts or as labels, indicating quantities of the components to be administered, guidelines for administration, and/or guidelines for mixing the components, can also be included in the kit.

The invention will be described in greater detail by way of specific examples. The following examples are offered for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the invention in any manner. Those of skill in the art will readily recognize a variety of non-critical parameters which can be changed or modified to yield essentially the same results. The compounds of the Examples have been found to be Pim-kinase inhibitors according to at least one assay described herein.

EXAMPLES Example A: In Vitro JAK Kinase Assay

Compounds herein were tested for inhibitory activity of JAK targets according to the following in vitro assay described in Park et al., Analytical Biochemistry 1999, 269, 94-104. The catalytic domains of human JAK1 (a.a. 837-1142), JAK2 (a.a. 828-1132) and JAK3 (a.a. 781-1124) were expressed using baculovirus in insect cells and purified. The catalytic activity of JAK1, JAK2 or JAK3 was assayed by measuring the phosphorylation of a biotinylated peptide. The phosphorylated peptide was detected by homogenous time resolved fluorescence (HTRF). IC₅₀s of compounds were measured for each kinase in the 40 μL reactions that contain the enzyme, ATP and 500 nM peptide in 50 mM Tris (pH 7.8) buffer with 100 mM NaCl, 5 mM DTT, and 0.1 mg/mL (0.01%) BSA. For the 1 mM IC₅₀ measurements, ATP concentration in the reactions was 1 mM. Reactions were carried out at room temperature for 1 hour and then stopped with 20 μL 45 mM EDTA, 300 nM SA-APC, 6 nM Eu-Py20 in assay buffer (Perkin Elmer, Boston, Mass.). Binding to the Europium labeled antibody took place for 40 minutes and HTRF signal was measured on a PHERA star plate reader (BMG, Cary, N.C.). The data for the JAK1 and/or JAK2 inhibitors were obtained by testing the compounds in the Example A assay at 1 mM ATP.

Example B. Pim Enzyme Assays

Pim-1 and Pim-3 kinase assays—20 μL reactions were run in white 384 well polystyrene plates dotted with 0.8 μL compound/DMSO in the assay buffer (50 mM Tris, pH 7.5, 0.01% Tween-20, 5 mM MgCl₂, 0.01% BSA, 5 mM DTT), containing 0.05 μM Biotin-labeled BAD peptide substrate (AnaSpec 62269), 1 mM ATP, and 2.5 pM (Pim-1, Invitrogen PV3503) or 1.25 pM (Pim-3, Millipore 14-738) enzyme for 1 h at 25° C. Reactions were stopped by addition of 10 μL STOP Buffer (150 mM Tris, pH=7.5, 150 mM NaCl, 75 mM EDTA, 0.01% Tween-20, 0.3% BSA) supplemented with Phospho-Bad (Ser112) Antibody (Cell Signaling 9291) diluted 666-fold, and Streptavidin donor beads (PerkinElmer 6760002) along with Protein-A acceptor beads (PerkinElmer 6760137) at 15 μg/mL each. Supplementation of the STOP buffer with beads and stopping the reactions were done under reduced light. Prior to the stopping reactions STOP buffer with beads was pre-incubated for 1 h in the dark at room temperature. After stopping the reactions, plates were incubated for 1 h in the dark at room temperature before reading on a PHERAstar FS plate reader (BMG Labtech) under reduced light.

Pim-2 kinase assay—20 μL reactions were run in white 384 well polystyrene plates dotted with 0.8 μL compound/DMSO in the assay buffer (50 mM Tris, pH 7.5, 0.01% Tween-20, 5 mM MgCl₂, 0.01% BSA, 5 mM DTT), containing 0.05 μM Fluorescein-labeled CREBtide peptide substrate (Invitrogen PV3508), 1 mM ATP, and 1 nM enzyme (Invitrogen PV3649) for 2 h at 25° C. Reactions were stopped by addition of 10 μL TR-FRET Dilution Buffer (Invitrogen PV3574) with 30 mM EDTA and 1.5 nM LanthaScreen Tb-CREB pSer133 antibody (Invitrogen PV3566). After 30 min. incubation at room temperature, plates were read on a PHERAstar FS plate reader (BMG Labtech).

Compounds of the invention having an IC₅₀ of 2 μM or less when tested for PIM kinase activity under the assay conditions disclosed above are considered active.

Although the above in vitro assays are conducted at 1 mM ATP compounds can also be evaluated for potency and in vitro activity against PIM targets utilizing K_(m) conditions, where the concentration of ATP is set to the K_(m) value and the assay is more sensitive to PIM inhibition activity.

Example C. Pim Cellular Assays

One or more compounds of the invention were tested for inhibitory activity of PIM according to at least one of the following cellular assays. Compounds of the invention having an IC₅₀ of 10 μM or less when tested for PIM kinase activity under the cellular assay conditions disclosed below would be and were considered active.

Pim Cell Proliferation Assays

KG-1A cells are purchased from ATCC (Manassas, Va.) and KMS.12.BM cells are purchased from NIBIO, JCRB cell bank (Tokyo, Japan) and maintained in the culture mediums recommended, RPMI, 10% FBS (Roswell Park Memorial Institute 1640 Medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum) and IMDM 20% FBS (Iscove's Modified Dulbecco's Medium (MDM) with 20% fetal bovine strum) (Mediatech, Manassas, Va.) respectively. To measure the anti-proliferation activity of test compounds, both cell lines are plated with the culture medium (2×10³ cells/well/in 200 μL) into 96-well polystyrene ultralow binding (Costar in the presence or absence of a concentration range of test compounds. After 4 days, [³H]-thymidine, 1 μCi/10 μL/well (PerkinElmer, Boston, Mass.) in culture medium is then added to the cell culture for an additional 16 h before the incorporated radioactivity is separated by filtration with a Packard Microplate Harvester with water through a 0.3% polyethylenimine pre-wetted glass fiber GF/B filter plates (Packard Bioscience/PerkinElmer, Boston, Mass.). The plate is measured by liquid scintillation counting with a TopCount® scintillation sounter (PerkinElmer). IC₅₀ determination is performed by fitting the curve of percent inhibition versus the log of the inhibitor concentration using GraphPad Prism® 5.0 software.

Pim pBAD Signaling Assays

KG-1A cells are purchased from ATCC (Manassas, Va.) and KMS.12.BM cells are purchased from NIBIO, JCRB cell bank (Tokyo, Japan) and maintained in the culture mediums recommended, RPMI, 10% FBS and IMDM 20% FBS (Mediatech, Manassas, Va.) respectively. To measure the pBAD inhibitory activity of the compounds, both cell lines are plated with the culture medium (1×10⁶/well/100 μL for KG1A and 4×10⁵ cells/well/in 100 μL for KMS12BM) into 96-well V bottom polypropylene plates (Matrix, Thermo Fisher, USA) and incubated 30 min. at 37° C. to normalize cell signaling from handling. Test compounds are added at an appropriate concentration range and further incubated for 2.5 h for KMS.12.BM cells and 4 h for KG1-A cells. Plates are centrifuged at 2000 RPM for 10 min. and supernatants aspirated. 100 μL lysis buffer with protease inhibitors (Cell Signaling Technologies, Danver, Mass., Sigma, St Louis Mo., EMD, USA) is added to the pellets, mixed well and set on ice for 30 min. Lysates are frozen overnight at −80° C. To measure the pBAD activity, a Cell Signaling ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) kit (Cell Signaling Path Scan phosphor pBAD ELISA) is utilized. 50 μL of the lysate is tested per the ELISA protocol and the data analysis is performed by software on a SpectraMax® M5 plate reader (Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, Calif.). IC₅₀ determination is performed by fitting the curve of percent inhibition versus the log of the inhibitor concentration using GraphPad Prism® 5.0 software.

Example 1: The Pim Inhibitor, Compound 1, Synergizes with Ruxolitinib to Inhibit MPN Model Cell Growth

BaF3/EpoR/JAK2-V617F, UKE1, and SET2 cells were either left untreated (DMSO—vehicle only), or treated with ruxolitinib (Rux) or Compound 1 (PIMi), and these two together (Rux+PIMi). Results for BaF3/EpoR/JAK2-V617F cells are shown in FIG. 1(A); results for UKE1 cells are shown in FIG. 1(B); and results for SET2 cells are shown in FIG. 1(C). Synergy studies were performed by CellTiter-Glo at 72 hr. Expected % growth of combinations using the Bliss independence model is indicated by the dotted line: the lower measured % growth suggests synergy.

Example 2: Compound 1 and Ruxolitinib Syngeristically Induce Apoptosis

UKE1 and SET2 cells were treated with either DMSO, ruxolitinib, Compound 1 (PIMi), or these two together. Cells were stained using FITC Annexin V and PI and analyzed by flow cytometry. Error bars indicate s.d. The p value was calculated by one-way ANOVA using Prism (GraphPad Software, Inc.). Result for UKE1 cells are shown in FIG. 2(A); and results for SET2 cells are shown in FIG. 2(B).

Example 3: Inhibition of Neoplastic Erythroid Colony Formation of JAK2-V617F(+) MPN Hematopoietic Progenitors by Compound 1 and Synergistic Inhibition in Combination with Ruxolitinib at Very Low Doses of PIMi

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from an MPN patient (PV, JAK2-V617F+) were plated in methylcellulose containing cytokines without erythropoietin (Epo), and in the presence of either DMSO-vehicle, 50 nM ruxolitinib (Rux), 20 nM or 5 nM Compound 1 (PIMi) or the two drugs in combination. Epo-independent erythroid colonies were scored after 12 days. Results are shown in FIG. 3. Expected % growth of combinations using the Bliss independence model is indicated by the transparent bars with dotted lines. The lower measured % growth indicates synergy.

Immunoblot analysis of MPN patient granulocytes left untreated (DMSO only) or treated with the indicated concentrations of Compound 1 (PIMi) or ruxolitinib. Results are shown in FIG. 4.

These results indicate that Compound 1 and ruxolitinib have a synergistic effect at 1 nM, 5 nM, and 20 nM Compound 1 is unexpected.

Example 4: Conversion of Synergistic Effects to Human Doses

Plasma samples from patients were incubated ex vivo with the KMS12BM cell line for 2.5 hours at 37° C. Whole cell lysates were prepared from the cells, and levels of pBAD were determined using an ELISA. Data presented are at 24 hours post dose (FIG. 5(A)) and in a time course (FIG. 5(B)), on cycle 1, day 8 for 80 mg BID of Compound 1 (average inhibition of 76%). The results in FIG. 5(A) indicate that the IC₅₀ at trough for Compound 1 is reached at 65 mg BID. In turn, Compound 1 has an IC₅₀ of 134 nM when BAD phosphorylation was measured in whole blood samples spiked with KMS-12-BM cells treated ex vivo with Compound 1. Hence, 65 mg BID of Compound 1 results in an IC₅₀ of 134 nM in this whole blood assay. As these results are in a whole blood assay unlike the assay in Example 3, an adjustment must be made for protein binding of Compound 1 in the whole blood assay.

Accordingly, the protein binding of Compound 1 was determined in human serum (in vitro) ranging from 0.3 μM-10 μM. Compound 1 exhibited high protein binding. For human, the average in vitro serum fraction unbound (fu) of 7.0%. For the protein binding determination, the Multi-Equilibrium Dialyzer System™ and diachema membranes from Harvard Apparatus (Holliston, Mass.) were utilized. Samples were protein precipitated, matrix matched and then centrifuged. The supernatant was transferred and analyzed using LC-MS/MS. The percent fraction unbound for in vitro samples was calculated using final peak area ratios in post-dialysis buffer divided by final peak area ratios in post-dialysis serum, with correction applied for volume shift.

The assay in Example 3 involved plating cells from blood in media. Due to the protein content in the media, the free fraction of Compound 1 in media is 58%. The serum free fraction and media free fractions of 7% and 58% can be used to convert the results in Example 3 to an human dose assuming a linear dose-response curve. This can be done by calculating the protein-binding adjusted activity as (cell activity*% free in media)/% free in serum e.g., for cell activity of IC₅₀ of 1 nM, then (1 nM*58%)/7%=8.3 nM—an 8.3-fold shift in activity.

TABLE 1 Cell activity - Protein-binding Example 3 adjusted activity Human dose BID Daily human dose 1 nM 8.3 nM  4 mg BID  8 mg/day 5 nM  41 nM 20 mg BID 40 mg/day 20 nM  166 nM  80 mg BID 160 mg/day 

The 50 nM ruxolitinib in Example 3 corresponds a dose of ruxolinitb of about 15 mg BID. Generally, a dose of ruxolitinib in the 5-25 mg BID range would be expected to have synergistic effects.

Hence, the protein-binding adjusted activities of 41 nM and 8.3 nM correspond to IC₂₃ and IC_(5.7) for Compound 1. It was unexpected that synergy with ruxolitinib was observed in MPN cells at such low doses of Compound 1 well below IC₅₀.

Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference, including without limitation all patent, patent applications, and publications, cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of treating a myeloproliferative neoplasm in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering to said patient a dose from about 5 mg/day to about 100 mg/day N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a therapeutically effective amount of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is ruxolitinib phosphate.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is selected from the phosphoric acid salt, dihydrochloric acid salt, hydrochloric acid salt, maleic acid salt, adipic acid salt, hydrobromic acid salt, (R)-(−)-mandelic acid salt, salicylic acid salt, benzoic acid salt, benzenesulfonic acid salt, L-pyroglutamic acid salt, methanesulfonic acid salt, (1S)-(+)-10-camphorsulfonic acid salt, fumaric acid salt, sulfuric acid salt, L-tartaric acid salt, and D-tartaric acid salt of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is the phosphoric acid salt of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-Amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 8 mg/day to about 80 mg/day.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 8 mg/day to about 60 mg/day.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 8 mg/day to about 50 mg/day.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 8 mg/day to about 40 mg/day.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 8 mg/day to about 20 mg/day.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 2 mg BID to about 50 BID.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 4 mg BID to about 40 BID.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 4 mg BID to about 30 mg BID.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 4 mg BID to about 25 mg BID.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 4 mg BID to about 20 mg BID.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the dose of N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is from about 4 mg BID to about 10 mg BID.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the dose of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is about 10 mg/day to about 50 mg/day.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the dose of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is about 10 mg/day to about 30 mg/day.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the dose of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is about 10 mg/day.
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the dose of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is about 20 mg/day.
 20. The method of claim 1, wherein the dose of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is about 30 mg/day.
 21. The method of claim 1, wherein the dose of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is about 5 mg BID to about 25 mg BID.
 22. The method of claim 1, wherein the dose of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is about 5 mg BID to about 15 mg BID.
 23. The method of claim 1, wherein the dose of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is about 5 mg BID.
 24. The method of claim 1, wherein the dose of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is about 10 mg BID.
 25. The method of claim 1, wherein the dose of ruxolitinib, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is about 15 mg BID.
 26. The method of claim 1, wherein the myeloproliferative neoplasm is selected from polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), primary myelofibrosis, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES), systemic mast cell disease (SMCD), chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL), and chronic eosinophilic leukemia.
 27. The method of claim 1, wherein the myeloproliferative neoplasm is selected from polycythemia vera (PV).
 28. The method of claim 1, wherein the myeloproliferative neoplasm is selected from essential thrombocythemia (ET).
 29. The method of claim 1, wherein the myeloproliferative neoplasm is selected from primary myelofibrosis.
 30. The method of claim 1, wherein the ruxolitinib, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and the N-{(7R)-4-[(3R,4R,5S)-3-amino-4-hydroxy-5-methylpiperidin-1-yl]-7-hydroxy-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[b]pyridin-3-yl}-6-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-5-fluoropyridine-2-carboxamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, are administered orally. 